Means for positioning and holding fasteners in explosively actuated fastener drivingtools



Dec. 1, 1953 wElNGART 2,660,726

MEANS FOR POSITIONING'AND HOLDING FASTENERS IN EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED FASTENER DRIVING TOOLS Filed June 7, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. .331? Mel/4 a r? NGART 2,660,726 4,

TOOLS 2 SheetsSheet.2,

AND HOLDING FASTE FASTENEZR DRIVING NERS IN B. WEI ITIONING ACTUATED Dec. 1, 1953 MEANS FOR POS ELY EXPLOSIV Filed June 7, 1951 INVENTOR. ,Ben le/ezhga rz M Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR POSITIONING AND HOLDING FASTENERS IN EXPLOSIVELY ACTUATED FASTENER DRIVING TOOLS Ben Weingart, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 7, 1951, Serial No. 230,386

7 Claims. 1

This invention is concerned with a fastener applicator, that is, with a device for applying fasteners, or the like, and it is more specificially concerned with that type of device wherein an explosive charge is employed to drive or propel the fastener or element which is to be applied. It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved applicator or fastener handling device of the general character referred to which device serves to effectively and dependably handle fasteners that are free of retainers or special structural features serving to retain them prior to application.

Mechanisms or devices of the general character to which this invention relates can, in practice, be employed to handle elements of various kinds, and since it is common for such devices to be employed for the handling of fasteners, I will refer to the invention as being concerned with a fastener handling device. However, I wish it understood that the invention is in no way limited or restricted to the use to which the elements handled by the device are put or the purpose that they ultimately serve, and it is for this reason that I employ the term fastener to mean any element subject to being handled by mechanisms of the general class or character that I refer to.

Devices are in common use handling fasteners or like or comparable elements and serving to apply such fasteners to objects such as concrete bodies, and the like, by means of force developed by explosive charges. It is common in this type of device to provide the fasteners with flexible or deformable retainers serving to, in effect, releasably retain the fasteners in position to be actuated preliminary to their being driven. Retainers such as I refer to are, in effect, washer-like elements generally not desirable in the finished structure or installation and requiring manufacture and application to the fasteners. Further, such retainers commonly leave fragments in the applicators making it necessary to clean out such applicators after 2 fasteners by magnetic action, all of which in no way impairs, complicates or interferes with the handling of the fasteners or with their being driven as may be the case when the fasteners are complicated by special retaining devices such as I have mentioned above.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fastener handling device of the general character referred to employing a magnetic "fastener retaining means which is of simple, inexpensive construction and which in no way complicates or impairs the general construction of the de-' vice.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fastener handling device of the general character referred to provided with a magnetic fastener retaining means in which the magnet- 10 action is gained by means of a simple, inex pensive, elongate bar magnet disposed relative to the barrel of the device so that an end of the magnet is in position to effectively hold a fastener ready for operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fastener handling device of the general character referred to in which a magnetic fastener retaining means is provided characterized by an annular or tubular magnet concentric with the barrel of the device and polarized so that it has ends either or both of which may serve to retain a fastener ready for operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fastener handling or holding device of the general character referred to in which a magnetic fastener retaining means is provided, which means is characterized by an annular sectional magnet concentric with the barrel of the device and polarized so that each section is, in effect, a U-type or U-shaped magnet, with the result that the holding action is, in effect, that of a multiplicity of magnets rather than one only.

t is another object of this invention to provide a structure of the general character referred to in which the barrel of the applicator is provided at its breech end with an enlargement or bore accommodating an insert, which insert may constitute or form a carrier for the magnetprovided by the present invention serving to hold the fastener in position to be operated by a charge engaged or inserted in the insert.

The present invention is applicable to fastener applicators, generally, and it can be advantageously applied to applicators wherein the barrel through which the fastener is driven by the explosive charge is related to the other parts in various ways, and it can be applied to appli- 3 cators characterized by various firing mechanisms, features of control, and other like characteristics.

The fastener retaining means of the present invention involves a magnet, preferably a permanent magnet. The barrel of the structure is provided with an opening to accommodate the magnet m d a suitable mounting means mounts the magnet in a suitable operating positioh or in the opening of the barrel. It is preferred that the mounting means be formed of material that is non-magnetic.

In the case of a typical fastener havihg an elongate shank and an enlargement or head on one end, the fastener is applied to the barrel or to the bore of the barrel and a part of the fasten er such as the head, when adjacent the polarized end of the magnet, is held against in'oveiheht in the barrel unless it is deliberately forced therefrom. The parts are arranged and related so that when the fastener is thus held in the barrel, the "explosive charge is accommodated in the barrel above the fastener and a suitable clo sure or breech block, and other features, may be ih'cdlpbrated t the end thatwhen the Charge is ignited, the fastener is driven down through the barrel and into the work.

In the case of a fastener holding means wherein the nia'gnet is annular or tubular in form, either a continuous annular member or a seetion'al annular member. the magnet is refersbry Ii'ieated at the breech end of the barrel and is there accommodated by an opening in the barrel and a suitable mounting means is provided supporting the magnet in the desired posit'ion relative to the bore of the barrel.

In the case of a construction wherein the barrel is characteristically separable from the other pairs to facilitate loading or charging of the structure, it is common to provide a removable insert in the barrel at the breech end, which insert is accommodated an enlargement of the barrel opening or bore in the form of a "counterb'ore. The annuiar magnet of the present intension can be carried 153' the insert or it can be accommodated ihan eite'nsion of the Cdulltrhere that carries the insert so that the magnet is concentric with the fastener handling bore or the .har rel and its central openihg may be of the same size as the bore of the barrel. The mounting, mean holding the annular rl'ia'g'r'i'et ifiay involve 'a sleeve around "the magnet and flafiges at the ends of the magnet. The nsert ovideii at the breech end of the barrel s ing as "amounting or holder for the explosive charge 'may'heeinployed or utilized as the means for 'i'eta'ihifig the fastener holding magnet in the "extension of "the 'counte'rbore.

The various objects and features 'of my invention will "be fully understood from the following detailedd'escription of typical preferred for'rr'is applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the acebinpanying drawings: 7 p a "On "sheet 1 'of the drawings, and in Figs. 1 "to 5, inclusive, I illustrate'the invention applied to or accommodated in 'a gun type "applicator in'wl'ii'ch the structure is suchthat the barrel is demouiitable to "facilitate loading. Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the applicator and showing it from one "side, certain parts being'broken away to show in section. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed sectional view ofa portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 this View showing a fastener positioned in the barrel immediately below the propelling charge and adjacent the fastener retaining or holding means. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper end portion of the barrel showing the barrel detached from the other parts and showing the fastener holding means of the present invention in position in the barrel. Fig. 4 is'a detailed transverse sectional view taken as indicated by line 44 on Fig. 3 and showing the magnet and its surroundifig holder in section, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the fastener retaining means of the present invention, showing it separate from the other parts of the structure.

9h sheet 2 of the drawings Fig. 6 is a view sim- "i-lar to Fig. 2, illustrating a construction wherein the barrel insert is combined with the magnet holderso that these parts act as a unit. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional View taken as indicated by lih'e 1 on Fig. 6, showing the magnet as an annular or tubular sectional construction. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the magnet illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 showing it separate from. the other parts. Fig. "9 is 'a view similar to Fig- 6, illustrating a construction wherein the magnet, which is tubular in form, is employed in the barrel as an insert and serves as the carrier for the charge by which the fastener is driven. Fig.v

10 is a view of the magnet shown in Fig. 9 and illustrating it separate from the other parts and. combined with a fastener, and Fig. '11 is a view similar to Fig. '9 showing a somewhat different.

adaptation.

In the form or the invention illustrated on.

Sheet 1 and in Figs. 1 to 5 Of the drawings, the

principal or elements of the applicator constitute a mechanism of a type wherein the barrei is detachable from the other parts tofacilitate loading, this being the eiierai form. or type of mechanism that is the subject of Pat-- tent No. 2,479,431 to R. Temple, issued August.

In this form oi the invention, there is a bar-- rel B eloh'gate'aiid tubular in formand at the; lower end "of the barrel there is a shoe it. A. collar portion l 3 is provided around the u per or breeehend or the barrel B and has a block; portion that ci'ose's'the upper end orthe said barrel. Ah eleriieh'tfil" "body H" is carried on. the collar portion and 'a portion thereof depends from said collar'fportidn and ear cs a.

spring 19 that carries the shoe iii. A sprin within the body" l|"ho1rhally *yiiaingly holds. the "collar .1ior'tio'n"i3"in a down position relative t said body such time as the body H" isii'e ressed to jfii'e the applicator. .A firing 'p'in H ispi-ovideu to beope'rated by a s ring p m J controls the action or the mechanism an particularly the firing pin.

and. "a control hie-one so that the ppi'ic'aior'is fired when the body i'if is depressed. 4 r

The barrel is"detacliable 'fr'o'ih the collar (3" since it is joined thereto by a coarse threaded: co nection so; A "handlers" is rovided at'the pperena of the body I IV, and the various parts are arranged and related. so that through suit able" manipulation or operation "'of the hand-1e Ell the control meansJ operates, releasing the ri'ringpi' softhat it operates into the block portion s" and pies i eeharge o i the "ripper end o 'ihej main portion f2 barre T18. in the particular "case illustrated, the charge f0 "is carried in a removahie insert 9| engaged iiian opening or bore 9'2 that extends into the main portion {2' oftlre harre'iirom its upper endin alignment with'the bore 31' thereof. V

The fastener retaining or holding Ihe'ah's'K' 5 provided by the present invention is characteristically such as to make wholly unnecessary any additions or accessories to the fastener F, and it is essentially a magnetic means.

The fastener F shown in the drawings has an elongate shank it and an enlargement or head M at the upper end of theshank, the head being engaged on the shank through a threaded connection 93.

The means K provided to hold the fastener in the desired position in the barrel and relative to the charge C involves a magnet M, and the main portion I2 of the barrel has an opening 50' therein accommodating the magnet M, and there is a magnet mounting means 5|.

In this form of the invention, the magnet M is of continuous annular r tubular form. In the particular case illustrated, the bore or opening 95 through the magnet M is enlarged or relieved at 98 or between the ends of the magnet, as shown in the drawings.

The opening 53 in the main portion 12 of the barrel is provided to accommodate the magnet and its mounting and is preferably a continuation of the counterbore 92 terminating at a shoulder 96 that faces upwardly.

The mounting means i for the magnet M is shown as a structure formed of non-magnetic material such as non-magnetic stainless steel, or the like, and it involves a sleeve 52 surrounding the magnet and end flanges 9? at each end of the sleeve and overlying the ends of the magnet all as best shown in Fig. 5 of the accom panying drawings.

The assembly formed by the magnet M and the magnet mounting means SE is inserted into the opening 50 through the counterbore 92 until the assembly rests upon the shoulder 96. The parts are related and formed so that when the magnet M in its mounting means 51 is thus engaged in the opening 59 the bore 95 of the magnet M is concentric with the bore 31' of the barrel B. It is preferred that the bores 31' and 95 be formed so that they are of the same diameter. When the assembled magnet and its mounting means are in place, the liner or insert 9! can be inserted and serves as a retainer for the assembly.

In the particular case illustrated, the bore or "opening 99 in the liner or insert 9i may be somewhat smaller in diameter than the bore 3! so that the lower end thereof forms a stop against which the head 4! of the fastener F can be engaged. When a fastener F having a head 4! of magnetic material is inserted in the structure as shown in Fig. 2 either end or both ends of the magnetic sleeve M serves to hold the fastener F in the desired position in the barrel. The holding of the fastener F is such that when the charge C is ignited, as by means or" the firing pin H, the fastener F is released and driven downwardly in the barrel in the desired manner.

With the form of construction illustrated in the drawings, the cartridge C is assembled into the upper end of the main portion 12' of the barrel when that portion is detached from the collar l3, and the fastener F can be inserted into said barrel portion 12 from its upper end ahead of the cartridge to a position where it is held by the magnet M.

So far as the present invention is concerned, the insert employed in the barrel and the fastener holding means can be combined to, in effect, form a unit subject to being handled as I 6'- such, and in the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings such a construction is disclosed. In thise case, the insert Sl has the sleeve portion 52 of the magnet mounting means 5l integrally joined thereto and projecting therefrom to enter the eX-- tension St of the bore 2 that accommodates the insert bi The mounting means for the magnet is thus combined with the insert as an integral part thereof so that these elements of the structure are subject to being handled as a unit. In carrying out this construction, it will be obvious that the magnet employed in the mounting means 5l may be the same as the magnet M hereinabove described, and shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive.

In carrying out the invention, the magnet employed, when tubular in form, can be of sectional construction, that is, it may be other than a continuous annular element, for instance, it may be formed of a plurality of sec-- tions which make up an annular structure or assembly. Such a magnet is illustrated in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, in which case the magnet M instead, of being a continuous annular element or sleeve-- like part, is formed of sections X and Y which assemble or combine to form an annular magnet: unit. In the particular case illustrated, the mag-- net unit is split or divided diametrically and longitudinally, so that the sections X and Y are semi-circular in cross section, and are of equal extent circumferentially of the magnet and combine to form a complete annular assembly. In practice, the abutting edges H0 of the magnet sections X and Y may be made to come together, or they can be insulated from one another, as circumstances may require. In this form of magnet construction, the magnet sections X and Y are of different polarity at the portions adjacent the edges H0, and as a result of this, the polarized parts extend longitudinally of the magnet sections or from one end of the magnet assembly to the other. The magnet sections are arranged or related relative to each other in the most advantageous manner, and the assembly of sections is inserted in the magnet mounting means so that the sections are held in the assembled relation. In the case illustrated, the two magnet sections X and Y held in the magnet mounting means 5| serve to effectively hold a fastener throughout the portion thereof that is within the magnet. In the case illustrated, a fastener F is shown having an elongate threaded head HF and when the head is in the structure as shown in Fig. 6 it will be held throughout its length.

So far as the broader principles of the invention are concerned, the magnet provided for holding the fastener and the insert for carrying the charge may be combined or consolidated as a single part. To illustrate such a modified construction I have, in Figs. 9 and 10, illustrated a construction wherein the magnet M is provided as an insert that carries the charge. I have shown this element or combined magnet and charge holding insert mounted in the barrel by a non-magnetic member 59. In Fig. 11 I have shown a combined charge holder and magnet part mounted directly in the barrel of the gun.

Referring specifically to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, the element M is an elongate tubular element carried in the bore 92 provided in the main portion I2 of barrel B. The element M is a magnet having a bore or longitudinal opening 99 such as to receive the charge C. In this case, the element M is detachably mounted in the bore 92 through a holder 59 of non-magnetic material fixed in the bore 92, and the arrangement of parts is such that the innermost end of the combined insert and magnet M is exposed or in position to effectively hold the head i I of a fastener inserted in the construction immediately ahead of the charge C. In the particular case illustrated, the element M which is a combined insert andmagnet, can be arranged in the structure with either end innermost to hold the fastener, and in the case illustrated, each end of the element M is recessed at M5 to effectively receive and guide the head H of the fastener in the manner clearly illustrated in Fig. of the accompanying drawlug-s,

In the case illustrated in Fig. 1 1 the member W is' of the same type as that just described, that is, the same asthat shown in- Figs. 14 and- 15, except that instead of being mounted in the bore of the barrel through a holder, it ismounted directly inthe bore of the barrel, there being no insulating sleeve between the member M and the barrel. In other respects the member M may be the same as the member M shown in FiESLQ and 1 0 Havingdescribed only typical preferred forms and applicationsof my invention, I do not wish to be limitedor restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wishto reserve to myself variations or modifications that may appear tothose skilled in the art and fall with-in the scope of thefollowing claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel adapted to receive the fastener and having an enlarged opening therein concentric with the bore of said barrel, a firing means adapted to ignite a fastener driving charge, and" a fastener holding means including, a magnet substantially filling said opening in the barrel with a pole of said magnet holding the fastener an unact'ua-ted position in the barrel; and a mountingof non-magnetic material surrounding and supporting the magnet in" said opening.

2. gun type fastener" applicator including, abarrel having a bore adapted to receivethe fastener and-havingan enlarged opening therein concentric with the bore' of said barrel; a firing meansa'dapted to ignite-a fastener driving charge, and afastenerholdingmeans including, a magnet'subst'antially'filling said opening in the barrel with a pole of the magnet holding the fastener in position in the barrel preparatory to firing the charge.

3. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel having a fastener receiving bore, and

an enlarged, annular opening in the bore o'f'saidi 6 barrel and con'oentric" therewith, a firing means adapted to ignite a fastener'driving charge, and a fastener; holding means including an annular magnet" in the: opening in said barrel and substantially filling the same with a pole of said magnet effective to hold a fastener in the boreof said barrel.

4-. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel adapted to receive the fastener and having an enlarged annular opening in the bore of said barrel and concentric therewith, a firing means adapted to ignite a fastener driving charge, and a fastener holding means including, an annular magnet composed of a plurality of arcuate sections mounted in said opening and substantially filling the same, said sectional magnet holding the fastener in position in the barrel preparatory to igniting the fastener driving charge.

5. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel adapted to receive the fastener and hav-- ing an opening therein, a firing means adapted to ignite a fastener driving charge, and a fastener holding means including an insert engaged within the opening in the barrel and including a charge carrying portion and a continuous tubular magnet portion projecting longitudinally of the barrel from the charge carrying portion, said magnet serving to hold a fastener in positi'on the barrel preparatory to firing the charge in an unactuate'd position in the barrel.

6. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel ad'apted to receive the fastener and having an opening therein, a firing means adapted toignite a fastener driving charge, a fastener holding means including an insert within said opening in the barrel and including a charge carrying portion and a tubular magnet composed of a plurality of arcuate sections projecting lon git'u'dinally of the barrel from the charge carryin'g' portion of said insert to hold a fastener in a position on the barrel preparatory to firing the" charge.

7. A gun type fastener applicator including, a barrel adapted to' receive the fastener and having an enlarged opening therein concentric with the bore of the barrel and at the breech end thereof, a firing means adapted to ignite a fastener' driving charge; and a fastener holding means including a tubular insert engaged in and substantially filling the opening in" the barrel and adapted to accommodate and carry a fastener driving charge and including amagnet extending longitudinally of the barrel and adapted to hold a fastener in the barrel forward of the charge. I

BEN WEINGA R'I".

References (Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 315,458 Raymond Apr. 7 ,1885 394,604 Patten Dec. 18, 1888 612,040 Hoofnagle Oct.- 11,, 1898 1,416.6;968 Smith Sept; 4, 1923- 1,690,588: McCluney Nov.- 6,, 1928' 2,221,157 Temple Nov; 12,1940 

